CMCC vs. SMCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Maine Community College in Auburn, ME with Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Maine Community College is larger than CMCC based on total student enrollment (7,900 students vs. 4,754 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Maine Community College is located in Auburn, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Southern Maine Community College is in South Portland, ME (Small City setting).
• Central Maine Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southern Maine Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Maine Community College 20:1; Southern Maine Community College 20:1.

CMCC vs. SMCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMCC or SMCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Maine Community College than SMCC ($8,153 vs. $14,341).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Maine Community College are 0% lower than at Central Maine Community College ($10,974 vs. $10,977).
• Southern Maine Community College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMCC (about $16 more per year; $4,156.00 vs. $4,140.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at SMCC than at Central Maine Community College (about $16 more per year; $7,036.00 vs. $7,020.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Maine Community College than at Southern Maine Community College (98% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Maine Community College students is 11.3% larger than aid received by Southern Maine Community College students ($6,466 vs. $5,808).

CMCC vs. SMCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMCC or SMCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SMCC and CMCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMCC - Open admission; SMCC - Open admission.

CMCC vs. SMCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMCC and SMCC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Southern Maine Community College earn a median of about $600 more per year than CMCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $35,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Maine Community College graduates have a $1,716 lower median loan debt than CMCC graduates ($11,300 vs. $13,016).
• Among borrowers, SMCC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMCC graduates ($116 vs. $134).
• More SMCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMCC students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.